‘Need to preserve biodiversity to ensure ecosystem services’ : The Tribune India

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 15

DAV College Department of Botany organised a webinar on biodiversity and ecosystem services, sponsored by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, under the Star College scheme.

The resource person of the webinar was Gurharminder Singh, Principal Scientific Officer, Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, and Punjab Biodiversity Board, Government of Punjab. The speaker highlighted the value of biodiversity and the need to preserve it, to ensure the availability of ecosystem services.

He elaborated the threats to biodiversity and causes of ecosystem degradation. He stressed upon the fact that community participation was the key to ecosystem restoration.

He threw light on the biodiversity profile of Punjab and informed the audience about the mission “Tandarust Punjab” launched by the state government. He said the CM had outlined some goals under the mission, where in early development projects worth Rs115 crore would be taken up.

The projects will be focused on achieving success in safe food, clean water, green Punjab, road safety, waste management, land security, clean air and preventive health.

He discussed various conservation strategies being taken up by the state government at various levels. He also talked about sacred grooves in Punjab.